Index device



March 1-2, 1929. w. A. HARDY 1,704,892

I NDEX DEVICE Filed March 1'7. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 12, 1929.

w, A. HARDY I NDEX DEVI CE Filed March 17. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet March 12, 1929.

w. A. HARDY mmx DEVICE Filed March 17. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3141mm oz Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

WINFIELD A. HARnnorfBRooKLYN, NEW relax.

INDEX DEVICE.

Application filed March 17, 1922. Serial No. 544,440.-

This invention relates to an index device, and has for its object to provide a device of this character capable of containing a very great amount of data, or like material, in a minimum of space and readily accessible in detail. g

A further object is to provide a device, as indicated, which may beconstructed either as a separate article of office furniture, or as a built-in part of a desk, table, or the like, and which in either instance may, when not actually in use, provide a smooth substantially horizontal surface suitable for table or desk purposes.

A further object is to so construct the device that itmay serve equally well for the support of either memoranda books, pads, index cards or like articles or devices which are intended to carry data or the like mate'- rial for ready reference.

A further object is to provide means Whereby any one or more of the carrying devices, employed may be readily inserted or .removed as occasion may require.

A further object is to provide means whereby suitable adjustments may be readily made to adapt the device for carrying reference books, cards, or the like, of difierent sizes.

A further and more detailed object is to provide a device particularly adapted for the support of a number of index cardc rrying plates ofthe type illustratedin my pending application, Serial No. 459,882, and forso supporting said plates that any one thereof may be quickly.and ac'curately selected and its multitude of reference cards at once exposed for inspection.

A further ob '.cct is to'construct the device so that it will be simple and attractive in an pearanee and substantial and practical in its construction and operation.

Other objects and anus of the invention,

more or less-specific than those referred toabove, will be in part obvious and 111 part pointed out in the course oi: the following description of theelements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications Qfplllb ciples, constituting the invention, and the scope of protection contemplated will be ndicated in the. appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings whichv are,

to be taken asapart of this. specification, and

in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is a perspective View of an oflice desk showing the same to be equipped with a device of this invention.

Figure 2 is atransverse vertical sectional yiew thru a portion of the desk of Fig.1, illustrating the relative arrangement of parts of this device and of the desk.

Flgure 3 is a transverse sectional view thru a device constructed in accordance with this invention, and showing the same as adapted for use apart from the deskstructure.

Flgure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line IV of Fig. 3, and A A Figure 5 is a top plan view of the-structures seen in Figs. 3 and 4-. e

The exemplary embodimentsof the invention. as illustrated in the drawings include essentiallya plurality of supporting 'rods L- having rollers 1 at their opposite ends arranged to travel along tracks 2 and. 3 supported by a suitable frame-work indicated generally by thereference character G.

The support-ingrods L stand substantially parallel to each other, are free to roll independently along the tracks, and each sup ports what may be, conveniently termed a carrier H, the various carriers being so c0111 nectedwith the rods as to allowthe carriers to hang by gravitydownwardlylfroni the rods while the rods rotate freely in' suitable bean ing parts, as 4, formed upon the carriers.v

The carriers preferably have associated therewith index tabs or likedevices, as 5, for. identification purposes. A

Then it is desired to inspect the contents of any one of the carriers such carrier is sim ply swung about its supporting rod and int'o a horizontal position where it may he opened, and itswhole contents inspected at aglance. When the inspection has been completed the carrier is dropped again to: its verticalpo'si tion and any other carrierilifted forjinspeetion as desired. 1 i

The various parts may be constructed in any ,desired manner but as illustrated theframe G consists of front and: rear'tracksupporting members ",6" and '7 Jresjec'tively,

and connecting end members 8 "here the device ,isintended for use as a separate arti-f do of manufacture, as in Figs. Sand the end members 8gexten'd downwardlybelowth-e' tension parts slidably connected in position, as by means of bolts 11 andslots 12, so

that the height of said end members may be adjusted at will to properly accommodate carriers H of different widths. V

The front and rear members 6 and 7 are of identical construction and each ,consists preferably of a strip of sheet-metal bent.

longitudinally to provide an outside wall 13, a bottom wall 14 and a pendent stiffening flange 15.

The bottom wall 14 constitutes a ledge upon the upper surface of which is provided the tracks 2 and 3 which, in the instance illustrated, are formed from a strip of sheet-metal having its opposite longitudinal edges bent upwardly into parallelism, one of said upwardly bent edges providing the track 2 and the opposite edge providing the track 3. The

intermediate portion, as 16, is rigidly con nected with the wall 14:, as by means of solder or other device, as indicated at 17 Pivotally connected at the upper edge of the outside wall 13, as at- 18, is a separately formed flap 19, having an edge flange 20. This flap is adapted to swing into and out of position covering and substantially concealing the rollers 1 and serving to hold said rollers against accidental displacement from the tracks. Yet, whenever it is desired to reeach of the side members is clearly indicated particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

namely, to permit of the use of relatively large rollers and yet to enable the rods L to be brought into suitably close proximity to each-other. In other words, to enable suitably close nesting of the carriers Hagainst each other-when hanging from their respective supporting rods.

, The size of the rollers is increased by reason 'of the presence of broad flanges 21 thereon which are important in that they serve to straddle and fit upon the tracks so as tooperate for preventing likelihood of the rods moving in other than substantially parallel relation to each other. By engaging opposite sidesurfaces ofthe tracks the flanges serve to hold the rods at substantially right angles to the tracks at all times and thus to prevent one end of a rod moving in advance of the other end.

The flaps 19 engage either or both therods and the rollers in a manner to retain the flanges against lifting out of engagement with the tracks. I

The carriers H illustrated each consists of a pair of yokes 22 and 23 constructed so as to make up a sort of skeleton satchel within which is carried one or more books, plates or other index-containing devices 24. These yokes are shown. to consist each of a pair of members 25 and 26 pivotally connected together at their lower ends by a pivot rod 27. The upper ends of themembers 25 are shaped to provide the bearings 4t while the upper ends of the members 26 are shaped to provide a form of spring catch 28 arranged to interengage with the member 25 for holding the two members in what may be termed'their collapsed position; that is, closed against each other as when not in use; I

The catches 28 may be disengaged whenever desired so that the carrier may be swung open for inspection.

The bearings tin addition to providing free rotation of the rods relative to the carriers, also provide for free longitudinal movement of the carriers along the rods.

Before opening a, carrier it should be swung to a horizontalposition as above mentioned, and then allowed, or caused, to slide slightly along the length of its'supporting rod for resting 'uponfa bracket 29 arranged to receive and to hold it in horizontal position while open. 1

The bracket 29, in the structure disclosed, consists of a bar extending longitudinally of the device and parallel with the track in a position below the rods L." This bar is provided with one or more supporting standards 30 which are received within sockets 31 carried by the adjacent-flange 15 of the front side member 6.

It is desirable that the level of the bracketbar 2.9.may be altered upon occasion in order to properly support carriers of different thicknesses and for this purpose the standards 30 are adjustable within the sockets 31',

and are adapted to be held in any adjusted position by means of a suitable retainii'igdevice as represented by the set screw 32.

W hen a carrier has been swung to horizontal, or operative position, it may be readily slid along its supporting rod to position over the bracket bar and after the desired examination has been made of the contents of the carrier the carrier may be as readily slid back again free of the bracket bar and allowed to swing to its vertical or inoperative position.

It may be noted in this connection that the flange 20 of the front flap l9 constitutes an abutment surface operating to stop movement'of the carrier in operative position above'the bracket bar. i 7

If desired the bracket bar, and its associated elements, may be duplicated upon the Hil rear side member 7 whereby to enable the carriers to be supported in operative position by being slid either upwardly or downwardly as may be preferred by the user.

As previously mentioned the index devices 24 herein illustrated are of the type shown in my pending application referred to and briefly described consist each of a-plate 33 having opposite edge flanges forming run- -ways 34. extending between which are retained the index elements proper, consisting of a number of cards or papers upon which data may be written.

The plates 33 are shown to be connected with the members 25 and 26, by suitable rivets, or the like, as 35, and hereis may be mentioned that in some instances the carriers may be made singly; that is, to carry only a single record device 2%- istead of two record devicespivotally connected together as de scribed. Also, that the devices 24 may censist simply of books and that these may be pivotally and slidably connected with the rods L in any suitable manner and be provided with appropriate devices for retaining them against unintentional opening.

As seen in Fig. 3, it is proposed in some instances to arrange the front and rear side members 6 and 7 so that one is slightly above the other, thus causing the supporting rods L to stand at an incline. By this means the carriers are given a tendency to slide downwardly along the rods and into engagement with the bracket bar 29 of the front member 6 so as thus to cause all of the carriers to stand in uniform relation to each other. Also, the carrier may be very easily slid into operative position above the bracket bar when desired for useas above described, and will more securely retain its operative position until positively slid upwardly again along the supporting rod.

When a selected carrier is to be swung upwardly from inoperative to operative position, of course the other carriers are slid along the tracks 2 and '3 so as to make room for the carrier which.is being swung into operative position. Thus one or more of the carriers is being shifted back and forth along the tracks frequently during the use of the device, andthe importance of the wide flanges on the rollers will thus be apparent for keeping the carriers parallel.

When the device is not desired for imme diate use it may be covered and protected by it separately formed cover member 4C1 which rests upon the upper edges of the side members 6 and 7 and end wall members 8, and which has suitable marginal flanges 42 lapping said walls to hold the cover in position. This cover may readily be used'asa writing desk surface, or for any other ordinary desk purposes.

When the device is to be used, o-r-made up as a part of a desk structure,'as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the desk is formed with an opening 36 in its top surface fitted with a suitable lid, or cover, 37 which preferably can be swung into and out of position closing said opening so that whenever desired the desk may be used for ordinary desk pur poses and yet upon occasion may be quickly transformed into an index device or filing cabinet.

A suitable casing 38 may be provided into which the opening 36 communicates and within which the index device, as already described, may be positioned.

Altho it will be apparent thatthe index de vice, constructed exactly as already described, may, if desired, be positioned within the casing 38 where it will be ready for convenient use whenever the lid 3'? is opened, (in this case, of course, the cover 35 might be omitted), yet a somewhatmore appropriate appearance may be obtained by mounting the front and rear side members 6 and 7 directly uponthe desk structure; that is, upon the parts, as 39, forming the end walls of casing 38, and close up beneath the lid 37 so that the carriers, when in operative position, will stand as near as possible to the level of the upper surface of the desk.

Devices constructed in accordance with this invention maybe made of-any desired size according to requirements. The desk seen in l, for instance, may contain an outfit either smaller or larger than that shown so that the containing casing 38 extend over the drawer sections 4L0,'or not. Also, a device built to accommodate a relatively large number of carriers H'may actually contain on-lya relatively small number of carriers and such as are contained will be supported and may be used with the same efficiency and convenience as tho the full quota of'carriers were present. Ample allowance may thus be pro vided for prospective expansion in the re quirements of a growing business. Carriers may be inserted or removed at will. Carriers of-one kind-or size; that is, adapted for a certain "use, may be removed and carriers of a different kind or size, adapted for another use, may be inserted. One whole set of carriers, containing what may be considered temporarily inactive data, may be removed and piled away to make space for the'accommodm tien of an entirely new set of carriers containing so-called active data.

In removing the carriers, for purposes of substitution, or otherwise, the supporting rods and rollers of the respective carriers preferably areremoved as one with the'carriers. In fact these elements may 'beconsidered as parts of the carriers in this respect.

And here it may be mentioned thataltho this device at present finds itsmost'usefulem ployment as. a container for a great number of'i ndeX references and the like, yet it is obvious that the carriers may readily be designed so as to contain a miscellaneous assortment of papers, or the like, thus adapting the device for efficient use as a filing papers and documents.

- Wherever, therefore the term index is herein employed, particularly in the claims, such term is intended to comprehend both index and filing devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the class described comprising an index carrier, a pair of tracks, supporting means for said carrier having rolling engagement with said tracks, and said carrier having pivotal connection with said supporting means to at once permit rolling movement of the supporting means along said tracks and. to allow the carrier to hang normally beneath said supporting means during such rolling movement, together with means by which to hold the'carricr against rolling at will.

2. A device ofthe class described comprising an index carrier, a pair of tracks, supporting means for said carrier having rolling engagement with said tracks, and said carrier having pivotal and 'slidable connection with said sun aortin means ada Jted first to )ermit the carrier to ban b ravit 7 D 4 from the supporting means in an inoperative position during movement of the supporting means along said tracks, second, to permit swingingmovementoft the carrier relative to the supporting means into another position, and third, to permit sliding movement of the carrier along the support at will.

3. A device of the class described comprising an index carrier, a pair of tracks, supporting means for said carrier having rolling engagement with said tracks, and con nections between the carrier and the supporting means of a character, adapted first, to permit the carrier to hang by gravity from the supporting means in an inoperative position during movement of the supporting means along said tracks, second, to permit n'iovement of the carrier into another position. and third, to permit movement Off the carrier into engagement with a part for preventing return ot' the carrier to its ino erative position.

4. In a device of the class described com prising a plurality of index carriers, a pair of tracks, supporting means by which the carriers are supported to roll along said tracks and to hang by gravity beneath said supporting means, index means tor identitying the several carriers, the carriers being openable and constructed to permit ready inspection of their contents at Wlll, together with means to hold the carriers in open position.

5. A device of the class described compriscabinet for and along which rod the carrier ing a plurality of index carriers arranged in a row, four tracks arranged two tracks extending along each side of said row, supporting memberstor said carriers respectively having rolling engagement with said tracks, and'the supporting member 01 adjacent carriers engaging di'iierent pairs of tracks substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A device of the class described comprising an index carrier, tracks, a supporting rod for said carrier provided with means having rolling engagement with said tracks is slidable, and a cover for said tracks having a part serving as limiting means to limit sliding movement of the carrier.

7. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of index carriers, tracks upon which the carriers are mounted to roll, a supporting frame for said tracks comprising opposite side pieces upon which the tracks are mounted and end pieces to which said side pieces are connected, and said end pieces having supportcngaging extensions provided upon said end pieces, and means whereby said extensions are adj ustably connected with said end pieces and by which the elevation of the tracks above the support may be altered at will.

8. A device of the class described comprising an index carrier,'tracks, a supporting member for the carrier having rolling engagement with said tracks, and covering means for said tracks movable into and out of position retaining said supporting means in rolling engagement with the tracks.

9. A device or" the class described comprising a carrier, an elongated supporting member for said .arrier, connecting means between the carrier and thesupporting member constructed to permit sliding movement of the carrier longitudinally of the supporting member, and said connecting means being constructed to hold the carrier suspended beneath the supporting member and to permit swinging movement of the carrier about the supporting member.

i 10. A device of the class described comprising a carrier, tracks, supporting means for the carrier,including rollers by which the carrier may be moved from place to place along said tracks, the carrier being supported by said supporting means in a normal inoperative position suspended beneath said supporting means but said carrier and said supporting means being constructed to permit swinging movement of the carrier out of said inoperative position at will, together with. means whereby the carrier may be held against return to said inoperative position.

11. A device of the class described comprising a carrier, supporting means for said carrier constructed to permit movement of the carrier bodily along said supporting means,

said carrier and said supporting means being constructed also to permit manual swinging movement of the carrier about the supporting means, and means to support said supporting means and also adapted to retain the carrier in one of the positions to which it may be swung and bodily moved.

'12. A device of the class described comprising tracks, a plurality of index carriers, supporting means whereby the carriers are independently supported upon said tracks and by which said carriers are adapted to travel along said tracks into and out of close proximity to each other to afford access to said carriers selectively at will, and means whereby any selected carrier may be caused to stand in an abnormal position with respect to the supporting means.

13. A device of the class described comprising tracks, a plurality of index carriers, independent support-ing members one for each oi said index carriers, means by which the index carriers are connected with the supporting members to hang by gravity vertically beneath their respective supporting members, said connecting means and supporting members providing for swinging movement of the index carriers from said vertical position to a horizontal position, means by which the supporting members are independently engaged with said tracks to permit movement of the carriers into and out of'close proximity to each other, and means by which any selected carrier may be held in a horizontalposition.

14. A device of the class described comprising tracks, a plurality of index carriers, independent supporting members one for each of said index carriers, means by which the index carriers are connected with the supporting members to hang by gravity vertically beneath their respective supporting members, said connecting means and supporting members providing for swinging movement of the index carriers from said vertical position to a horizontal position, means by which pendent supporting members one for each" of said index carriers, means by which the index carriers are connected with the supporting members to hang by gravity vertically beneath their respective supporting members, said connecting means and supporting members providing for swinging movement of the index carriers from said vertical position to a horizontal position, said connecting means and supporting members also providing for sliding movement oi the carriers upon the supporting members, means by which the supporting members are independently engaged with said tracks to permit movement c of the carriers into and out of close proximity to each other, and means with which the carriers may be engaged as the result of swinging and sliding movement of the carriers to hold the carriers in a desired position.

16. A device of the class described comprising an index carrier, a pair of tracks, supporting means for the carrier having rolling engagement with said tracks, and connections between the carrier and the supporting means by means of which the carrier will hang normally by gravity from the support-ing means in an inoperative position, said carrier by reason of said connections being manually mov able into a difierent position with respect to the supporting means, and said carrier, by reason of said connections being also manu a1- ly movable into engagement with a part for retaining it against return to normal position.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

WINFIELD A. HARDY. c 

